Job Description
Job Title:Head of Geography
Responsible to:The Principal through the Vice Principal (Curriculum)
General: To provide effective leadership and management and thereby build and maintain an effective teaching team, which continually enhances the high quality of learning, teaching and achievement within the Department.
Leadership
1.To inspire department members by personal example and hard work.
2.To lead and manage the human resources of the Department, including teaching, non-teaching and support staff, both in terms of deployment of staff and day-to-day support.
3.To create a vision, sense of purpose and pride in the Department.
4.To co-ordinate the production and maintenance of the department handbook, and to implement, monitor and evaluate all of its policies and documentation.
5.To lead and be responsible for the process of continuously monitoring, evaluating and improving the high quality of learning and teaching in the Department.
6.To be responsible for maintaining discipline within the Department on a day-to-day basis when required.
7.To play a major role as a middle manager in the development of all aspects of the School, including its policies and their implementation.
8.To assist in the maintenance of good staff relations and ensure that adequate channels of communication are maintained.
9.To develop and maintain effective methods of communication with the Principal, SLT, SMT, and other staff, pupils, parents, governors, external agencies and the wider community (including business and industry).
10.To identify and applaud areas of success for individual teachers and the department as a whole.
11.To promote Geography within and beyond the school community.
12.To help create an effective team by promoting collective approaches to problem-solving and curricular/department development, e.g. consult when writing the Departmental Development Plan and produce resources as a team.
13.To chair and produce the agenda for effective department meetings.To ensure minutes are made, kept secure and others informed as appropriate.
14.To attend meetings of Heads of Department and represent the views of department colleagues at such meetings.
15.To oversee the implementation of school assessment and target setting policies, and make effective use of data to monitor and evaluate the achievement of pupils in the department.
16.To initiate/maintain/oversee the provision of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities relevant to the Department, e.g. the use of resources after school or during lunch-breaks or a club etc.
Curricular/Departmental Development
1.To contribute towards continuity and progression within the whole school curriculum.
2.To oversee the creation of a Departmental Development plan, together with its implementation and the part it plays in whole school development.
3. To oversee the process of Departmental self-evaluation, target setting and action planning.
4.To oversee the development of comprehensive standardised departmental schemes of work which include a range of teaching and learning styles providing a rich and consistent experience for pupils, including the use of ICT, and to ensure that a variety of assessment methods are incorporated at key points to facilitate formative assessment and to enable accurate judgements on pupil progress.
5.To develop departmental strategies for the pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, including relevant aspects of Learning for Life and Work.
6.To monitor and evaluate the learning and teaching within the Department and to take the initiative in identifying strategies to support consistency of practice and to be a lead practitioner in the departmental team.
7.To develop departmental strategies and procedures for learning and teaching including those related to the provision for pupils with special educational needs.
8. Oversee the development and implementation of pupil voice practices within the Department and use feedback to inform learning and teaching strategies
9.To work with the LSC to ensure IEPs are used to set subject-specific targets, and to match curricular materials and approaches to pupil needs.
10.To co-ordinate and organise appropriate visits/trips related to the Geography curriculum.
11. To ensure that appropriate internal examinations are set and marked.
12.To ensure that Departmental pupil data is entered into the school system in accordance with tracking and reporting schedules and to monitor pupil data with a view to intervening and supporting pupils where required.
13.To promote the subject, eg at Open Nights, in publications and online, and to provide pupils with information to help them make option choices.
Stock/Resources/Budget
1.To oversee the allocation and management of resources within the Department.
2.To maintain an inventory of all stock items and to oversee the annual stock audit.
3.To carry out stock disposal in accordance with Department and School policies.
4.To store resources in such a way as to enable quick and easy access by all staff (and pupils where appropriate).
5.Manage the department budget to provide for the needs of the pupils and provide value for money.
6.To ensure that all equipment and accommodation used is kept in best condition.
Liaison/Communication
1.To meet regularly and work with the SLT for professional support and to develop effective departmental management.
2.To oversee and monitor the accuracy of predicted grades, exam entries and dates, and to work effectively with the Examinations Officer.
3.To act as the initial person for others to contact regarding all issues relating to the subject.
4. To liaise with members of the pastoral team regarding pupil progress/behaviour as required.
5.To liaise with colleagues to provide a smooth transition between schools and phases for all pupils.
6.To liaise with other curriculum co-ordinators in order to develop integrated schemes of work, e.g. Numeracy, Literacy, SEN, ICT and Learning for Life and Work.
7.To liaise with and assist, where necessary, other departments in the development of cross-curricular activities.
8.To inform staff about new developments and ideas related to the teaching of the subject.
9.To co-operate with the management of Health and Safety and the Inspection process.
10.To manage the provision of information to parent/carers and other staff about curricular choices, and choice of teaching groups for individual pupils and groups of pupils.
11.To provide timely, accurate and helpful responses to parent/carer enquiries.
12.To manage the Department’s contribution to the school prospectus, magazine, newsletter, website, social media platforms and any other relevant media.
13.To liaise with relevant external agencies.
Professional Development and Support
1.To provide or organise in-service training for the department staff (teaching and support) as appropriate.
2.To have day-to-day responsibility for the monitoring, support and assessment of trainee and newly qualified teachers.
3.To assist in the short-listing and interviewing of new members of the department.
4.To be responsible for the induction of staff new to the Department.
5.To advise the appropriate staff on the allocation of classes within the timetable.
6.To assist staff (teaching and support) who may experience behaviour management problems with pupils, and to be available to provide support on a daily basis.
7.To identify development opportunities for staff within the Department and through external agencies or courses.
8.To maintain a high level of awareness on current initiatives within the subject area and to disseminate relevant information.
9.To delegate tasks in a way that maximises the use of available talent, experience and enthusiasm and provides development opportunities for all staff.
10.To use the Performance Review Staff Development cycle to assist in enhancing the professional practice and aspirations of colleagues.
11.To be concerned for the personal and professional welfare of all teaching staff in the department.
12.To keep personally up-to-date with developments and new ideas related to subject knowledge and teaching and learning within the Department.
To undertake any other duties that might reasonably be expected of a Head of Department, as directed by the Principal.
SECTION 2 – HEAD OF DEPARTMENT DUTIES SPECIFIC TO GEOGRAPHY
To undertake any other duties that might reasonably be expected of a Head of Department, as directed by the Principal.
SECTION 2 – HEAD OF DEPARTMENT DUTIES SPECIFIC TO GEOGRAPHY
Coursework
1. to be responsible for the management and internal moderation of all coursework ensuring that deadlines are adhered to
2. put in place support procedures/mechanisms for pupils experiencing particular difficulties
3. keep up to date re changes to format or requirements
Fieldwork
4. to be responsible for the planning and organising of a comprehensive fieldwork programme. This includes both day trips and/or residentials and across all year groups, but most importantly mandatory trips for GCSE and A-Level classes
5. to arrange transportation for trips ie ordering of buses etc.
6. to liaise with field centres and landowners to ensure access/timing/staffing ratios etc. and smooth running of the trip
7. to be responsible for all matters of Health and Safety on fieldtrips and carry out risk assessment procedures
8. communicating with parents re. fieldtrip arrangements and issuing and monitoring Permission to Travel Forms - paying particular attention to medical conditions and dietary requirements
9. acting ‘in loco parentis’ when on trips
10. to be aware of and deal promptly with any behaviour/discipline issues which may arise during such out of school curricular activities
11. to ensure arrangements are put in place for pupils who may have some physical disability ie cognisance of inclusion
12. to inform ‘in-house’ school systems of staff, pupil names and numbers etc. out of school eg – cover arrangements, registration, staffroom lists, canteen, caretaker etc.
13. leave contact details, departure and return times etc in school office
14. to be familiar with EA guidelines on Fieldwork Safety Procedures and Guidance as published on their website
15. to ensure emergency procedures are in place in the event of accident
16. to work collaboratively within the Geography Department to support new staff inexperienced in fieldwork, and share good practice
17. commitment that underpins the belief that pupil experiences are of first priority.